<p>"I like character-oriented and character-driven films a lot. There needs to be a certain meaning to the film that you do and that's how I choose my roles," Neil, who was in the capital to launch travel magazine Lonely Planet India, told reporters.<br /><br />Asked if he would do romantic roles, Neil replied, "You can see romance in all my films, although it's true that that romance is a little different from other movies. But soon you will be seeing me in a complete romantic role as I am on the verge of signing one."<br /><br />Despite coming from a musical background, Neil ventured into acting. Instead of taking the routine route, he made his debut in a negative role in the crime thriller "Johnny Gaddar". Though the film didn't do well at the box office, Neil certainly won critical acclaim for his performance.<br /><br />Last year, he wowed the audiences as an undercover cop in "New York" that also had Katrina Kaif and John Abraham. In the same year he featured in Madhur Bhandarkar's critically acclaimed "Jail". Neil admits he does feel the pressure to keep up the reputation of his grandfather, legendary singer Mukesh, and his dad, Nitin Mukesh.<br /><br />"There is no doubt about the fact that I feel pressurised. It is very important as it took them (granddad and dad) decades of hard work and struggle to build that name and reputation. But it is a good pressure that gives me strength to give my best." Neil recently did a crash course in taekwondo in Bangkok. He will be seen doing some dare-devil stunts in an action advertisement for an innerwear brand. It was being said that he not only performed but also directed those stunts.<br /><br />"I won't say I directed it, but I coordinated it correctly because it's a double role act with difficult action sequence so you need to get it right in your mind. It was fun and came out really well." So, with acting, singing and directing, does Neil plan to follow the footsteps of Farhan Akhtar?<br /><br />"I don't know. Let's see and let's hope that I get to come a little closer to him. He is a superbly talented human being." Meanwhile, Neil is busy with films like Pradeep Sarkar's "Lafenge Parindey" that also stars Deepika Padukone, Vishal Bharadwaj's "Saat Khoon Maaf" with Priyanka Chopra and a film with Abbas-Mustan.</p>
<p>"I like character-oriented and character-driven films a lot. There needs to be a certain meaning to the film that you do and that's how I choose my roles," Neil, who was in the capital to launch travel magazine Lonely Planet India, told reporters.<br /><br />Asked if he would do romantic roles, Neil replied, "You can see romance in all my films, although it's true that that romance is a little different from other movies. But soon you will be seeing me in a complete romantic role as I am on the verge of signing one."<br /><br />Despite coming from a musical background, Neil ventured into acting. Instead of taking the routine route, he made his debut in a negative role in the crime thriller "Johnny Gaddar". Though the film didn't do well at the box office, Neil certainly won critical acclaim for his performance.<br /><br />Last year, he wowed the audiences as an undercover cop in "New York" that also had Katrina Kaif and John Abraham. In the same year he featured in Madhur Bhandarkar's critically acclaimed "Jail". Neil admits he does feel the pressure to keep up the reputation of his grandfather, legendary singer Mukesh, and his dad, Nitin Mukesh.<br /><br />"There is no doubt about the fact that I feel pressurised. It is very important as it took them (granddad and dad) decades of hard work and struggle to build that name and reputation. But it is a good pressure that gives me strength to give my best." Neil recently did a crash course in taekwondo in Bangkok. He will be seen doing some dare-devil stunts in an action advertisement for an innerwear brand. It was being said that he not only performed but also directed those stunts.<br /><br />"I won't say I directed it, but I coordinated it correctly because it's a double role act with difficult action sequence so you need to get it right in your mind. It was fun and came out really well." So, with acting, singing and directing, does Neil plan to follow the footsteps of Farhan Akhtar?<br /><br />"I don't know. Let's see and let's hope that I get to come a little closer to him. He is a superbly talented human being." Meanwhile, Neil is busy with films like Pradeep Sarkar's "Lafenge Parindey" that also stars Deepika Padukone, Vishal Bharadwaj's "Saat Khoon Maaf" with Priyanka Chopra and a film with Abbas-Mustan.</p>
